The elk lead them into a small oriental temple, which could’ve been the man’s house. He lead them into a separate room and stopped by a large stone slab set upon burning coals. “Lie the fox here. She should be able to recover with the power of heat.”
Sweltering and nearly dying himself, Daichi set Kohaku carefully on it, being careful not to burn himself.
The elk took a fire-proof blanket and covered her as if tucking her into bed. “She’ll need at least two days to recover. That is, if you can stay that long….”
Rigel inched towards the fire, savoring the heat radiating off of it. “They can… but I can’t,” Rigel spoke up, glancing at Mamoru, “She needs to have proper time to recover, and I don’t have that time.” Because if Rigel stayed, Peter might find them. Peter could bring a whole world’s load of trouble. But if Rigel left…
The elk nodded. “You need to be on your way soon?”
Mamoru nodded, judging from what Rigel said. “Is there a way to make the process faster but just as effective in healing her…?”
He nodded, and beckoned Daichi to stand by the fire. He positioned his massive arms in an alligator-like shape, a small green essence appearing in the center. And the elk stood perpendicular, blowing a soft fire through the orb and into the coals. with the power of earthly healing and the heat of fire, the coals turned a brighter red.
“That should do it,” The elk said. “In conbination with the Tsuchi’s universal healing ability, it should speed things up a little bit.”
Rigel lowered his voice, “Mamoru, I should go. All of you can stay, and I’ll leave. I was the one who intruded in on your life anyways.” Rigel told him, looking over his shoulder. Because no mattered what, Peter would hunt Rigel. But Mamoru and the others still had a chance.
“Go, if you must,” Mamoru said, still watching Kohaku. “But if he does end up coming for you….” He lowered his voice. “How are you going to protect yourself?”
“I- I’ll try to find metal…” So in other words, he wouldn’t be able to defend himself. Rigel would be out in the cold, freezing his finger’s off and unable to make a fire in fear of being tracked. But that was better than Peter finding him here with these people.
“It’s your choice….” Mamoru uttered. “But I’d hate to see you by yourself out there….” I thought…. I can’t force him to be with us, but I can’t just let him go, either….
“I… I’d hate myself if- if he came here because of me…” Rigel mumbled, looking back behind them at the landscape. Peter was out there somewhere, coming after them.
(I have several questions as to where Rigel is right now)
(He’s like near the edge of the fire, a few feet away from the others, oof sorry, he’s like teleporting lol)
(Oof, you said landscape and I’m like where is he??)
Kohaku stirred a bit.
Everyone flocked over, even Daichi, who was at risk of taking her place as the weakened one. “Kohaku,” He said softly. The urge to stroke her cheek was compelling, but he knew not to touch her— she was gaining heat as they spoke. “Tell me you’re alright.” You’re my child, after all…. I have permission to be concerned…. all of us do….
(Yeah, I had been trying to basically say he was looking behind him oof lol)
Rigel craned his neck to look at Kohaku, shifting to get a little closer to the fire. The heat it radiated slowly dried off his still wet and frozen clothing. “Kohaku?” He quietly asked, hoping she was okay.
(Ah okay :))
She opened her eyes a little, but didn’t move her body otherwise. “Hello….?” Kohaku uttered, barely audible. “….Wh… where am I…?”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, even the elk that help support her recovery. “I’m glad that she’s awake.”
She blinked slowly. “D….Dai….. Daichi?…..” She muttered. “W…… where….. where are you….?….”
Rigel let out a breath and took a step back away from the fire. She’s alright, they’re alright… They looked like a family, Daichi and Mamoru and the others, watching around Kohaku. Rigel wasn’t part of that. And that lonely feeling settled in his chest, and he looked behind him. Why do I even try to run anymore? What am I trying to save at this point, I don’t belong here…
(:0)
“Kohaku….” Daichi sighed greatfully. “I’m right here…” He was careful of the fire and stroked her forehead. She was definitely heating up, slowly but surely. “I’m here for you, Kohaku.”
Mamoru noticed Rigel was acting a little uneasy. “Are you doing okay?…. If you need to go, you can go….. I just don’t advise it as strongly.” He’ll probably suffer from hypothermia up here, and without metal, he’s defenceless….
When Rigel looked at Mamoru, his eyes had shifted, a hint of that emptiness in them. “I’m a hazard to you… and unneeded, and you need to find a new home,” Because of me, “Do you really think it’s best for me to stay with you all?”
Kohaku got a sudden rush of chills, and she shuttered. “…..R….R….Rigel…..???” She called him. “A….. a…. are… are you here…..?”
Rigel took a step closer for Kohaku’s sake, “Yeah, I’m here, are you alright?” He asked, forcing himself to keep the worry out of his voice. If I hadn’t insisted upon the mountains, we wouldn’t have had crossed the river, and Kohaku would’ve been okay.
She let out a shuttering breath, a cloud of vapor escaping her teeth. “I…. I….. d… did… did you try…… t…. to save me from…. the river…..???”
“Kohaku, save your breath, please,” Daichi begged.
“N…. No,” She curled up more under the blanket. “I…. I want… to… talk…. to R-R-Rigel….”
Rigel approached the edges of the flames, heat licking around him, “Yes, but Kohaku, you should rest, you need energy.” He insisted, but he moved to hold her hand anyways. She was already warming up, but he ignored it and didn’t let go.
(Awwww -w-)
She liked that. Holding a human’s hand. It hadn’t been done in ages, and she was the first to break the awkward barrier between human and Doku Ningen society.
…Rigel…. She siddenly flinched as another rush of chills struk her body.
(Should they ship? I can change Rigel’s age if we want that to happen?)
(Lol I don’t mind, but that’d be kinda weird, oooo
I guess if they did ship it’d kinda be almost like Romeo and Juliet with forbidden love, ish?
Do what you want, but it’d be weird to change Rigel’s age that drastically
Like, hes an adult
And….
Do what you want)
(What if I changed him to 18, then he would still be adult-ish, but only two years apart?)
